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Original poster

Is it possible? 2 grades in 18 months on violin

88 replies

Dietsmakemeangry · 13/04/2018 15:45

Do you think it is realistic to try and prepare a grade 3 reasonably musical child to pass grade 5 exam in violin (while skipping grade 4 in the process)? DS is good at sight reading (his strongest skill), but need to get to grade 5 distinction in order to try for a scholarship at his preferred secondary school.

OP posts:
Trumpetboysmum · 14/04/2018 09:07

Yes the information you are getting from the teacher doesn't sound particularly clear and it would frustrate me too . Ds had different teachers for grade 3 and grade 5 .

I also don't understand why she's entering him for grade 3 if he can play grade 4 pieces ? Is he playing these in his lessons . In some ways IMO it's great if she doesn't focus heavily on exams as I think there's a lot more to music than passing them but that's not helpful if you are going for music scholarships. Have you explained this to her ? Interestingly Ds wouldn't have got a music scholarship aged 10 and might not now as he's still not sat a piano exam ( though is around grade 5 ). For him it's all about playing the trumpet and private school music scholarships are looking for something different - which it sounds like your ds might have - they want pupils who will be involved in the musical life of the school on more than one instrument . I'd say go for it Smile

Original poster
Dietsmakemeangry · 14/04/2018 08:18

Thank you! I am so frustrated with the teacher, maybe it’s time to start looking for a new one.

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Trumpetboysmum · 13/04/2018 21:54

Yes Ds went from grade 3 to grade 5 in under 9 months at the same age ( but was probably well above grade 3 standard when he took the exam) brilliant progress on the piano !! Good luck

AliceLutherNeeMorgan · 13/04/2018 18:10

Yes I would say he would be a very strong candidate. That’s excellent progress in piano as second instrument and I agree that doing music theory “properly”and not just paying lip service to grade 5 will set him apart a bit. Good luck!

Habanero · 13/04/2018 17:34

That sounds pretty good for a chance at 10+ scholarships. If he can get grade 5 theory under his belt too (might take a bit of work in the summer holiday, to take the test in December) that’ll look very good.

Original poster
Dietsmakemeangry · 13/04/2018 16:32

He is doing a theory club and passed grade 3 theory exam with distinction. He also plays piano and got to grade 2 in 7 months from scratch, just passed with distinction. He also doing another instrument which I don’t want to mention, as it is quite rare and might be outing.

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Habanero · 13/04/2018 16:26

Oh okay, that’s much more reasonable: at that age he should be able to do it, with enough practise. What are the other instruments? Is he doing theory? That will always look good on a scholarship application, and if you get a good teacher, is a subject where you can get to grade 5 pretty quickly (but grade 6+ is much harder).

Wafflenose · 13/04/2018 16:26

If he was playing Grade 4 pieces last year, Grade 5 would be the next logical step I would imagine. It shouldn't take 18 months though!

Original poster
Dietsmakemeangry · 13/04/2018 16:22

He is playing grade 4 pieces since last year, it’s just his teacher is not bothered about exams that much.

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Original poster
Dietsmakemeangry · 13/04/2018 16:19

It’s for 10+, he needs to be at least grade 4, that’s why I am pushing for grade 5 to be on a safe side.

OP posts:
Habanero · 13/04/2018 16:17

Will grade 5 distinction be enough on violin? It is usually a quite competitive instrument as there are so many violin players and it’s the instrument people tend to plough through the grades at the youngest age (followed by piano). If it was grade 5 oboe, horn or double bass it would be more competitive for a music scholarship.

Also, does your child actually need the grade or do they simply need to be that standard? Is it for 11+ or 13+?

Original poster
Dietsmakemeangry · 13/04/2018 16:14

He does not play in any ensembles. His teacher always telling me one thing but then changes deadlines and goalposts again. He was ready to do his exam in December, then she decided that April will be better because he will be guaranteed a distinction but for some reason did not enter him for exams. Now she is saying he is pass grade 3, but will be doing his exam in June anyway. He is progressing faster on his other instruments that he picked up only recently, violin is his main instrument, but it looks like soon it won’t be. Ideally he needs to get a scholarship to pay for his music tuition because after paying his school fees we won’t be in a position of paying for music anymore which is going to be devastating for him as it is his passion.

OP posts:
AliceLutherNeeMorgan · 13/04/2018 16:00

I think yes it is possible if his sight reading is good (and his aural as well), and he plays in a few ensembles, and is prepared to practise a lot.

My DD’s violin teacher says she is playing at about grade 5 level, 10 months after getting a distinction in her grade 3, but tbh she was probably over that level at that time, and she has a way to go to consolidate the various skills.

What does his teacher say?